Arizona is a dry desert. We have wind, sometimes in the form of haboobs

but very little rain . . . until yesterday.

It was around noon and I was in the grocery store when suddenly everyone’s phone was ringing. A tornado warning for Maricopa County had just been issued by the NWS! I got home just as the worst was hitting. Some wind gusts registered over 40 mph. The rain meter evidenced over 2 inches of rain in less than an hour. Had it rained a full hour it would have been the equivalent of more than 8 inches an hour.

Didn’t see this news on the news last night, but the timing of a tornado in AZ occurring on the day of the UN Climate Summit makes me suspicious of those darn climate deniers.

Has anyone (vegan) contacted Burger King and others to ascertain whether or not the

vege burgers are cooked where no beef is cooked and that there's no crossing of utensils? I have emailed BK directly but have received no response. It is important info for me cuz I'm allergic to beef. If you've contacted them and received a response could you please post the information? Thanks,

Concern for the welfare of the animals in Hurricane Dorian's path, as well as concern for the

scheduled slaughter of 200 wild horses in Nevada made me remember that the animal right's groups that are working to rescue these animals have a horse named Beautiful Jim Key to thank for today’s animal rights groups.

The horse who started it all was named Beautiful Jim Key. His owner/trainer, was "Dr." William Key, a former slave, a self-trained veterinarian, and a patent medicine salesman.

Over a century ago, at a time when our nation was at war over a belief in slavery, it was the love and compassion shared between a man of color and his horse that motivated citizens of all colors to change their negative beliefs and negative behavior for a collective and positive social purpose. The love and compassion Dr. Key and Beautiful Jim Key shared with the world sparked a movement that launched not only the animal rights movement of today, but the child protective movement, as well.

A lesser known but just as positive a social impact created by a horse is the story of Old Joe, a horse who was shot and killed during a stagecoach robbery in 1901. His senseless killing left a hole in the hearts of the passengers traveling the California stagecoach trail and in the hearts of the children who lived along the trail, as they considered Old Joe their stable friend.

The positive social impact that Old Joe had on the lives of those who knew him is reflected in the stories of those who declared themselves to be better people because of knowing him. Moved by the story of Old Joe, succeeding generations are keeping Old Joe’s gravesite neatly trimmed and clear of weeds while talking to their spirit friend as if they, too, had been passengers on the California stagecoach trail.

If you haven’t read the book, it’s a good read: “Beautiful Jim Key: The Lost History of a Horse and a Man Who Changed the World” by Mim Eichler Rivas.

To my knowledge there is no book about Old Joe, but here’s a 2011 NPR link that contains the broadcast transcript and audio: https://www.npr.org/2011/07/23/138635459/along-stagecoach-line-hero-is-a-horse. This link is about where Old Joe is buried: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/6249.

Horses are smart -- engineering smart. They know exactly where the weakest part of the fence line

is 'cuz that's where they always go to scratch!

I feel for my guys in this day after day of heat and humidity in AZ, and I do what I can to make them comfortable but it's hard to watch the fence line bend to the pressure of their scratching. Oh well, life on the ranch . . . there's no place I'd rather be.

I hope this is the right place to post this. I grew up playing the piano and there was one tool

that really helped me learn the keys. It was made out of heavy card stock and each key on the piano was assigned a piano key on the cardstock. You strung it out behind the keys and up against the back of the piano. Because I'm going to resume playing I've been looking to buy one but can't find it. Don't even know if they're still made, but it sure helped. Does anyone know of what I've described and know if it's still available and where? Thanks,

Is Trump's goading Pelosi and the House for impeachment part of a larger plan?

What if Trump’s behavior is part of his plan to avoid state and federal charges once he leaves office or is forced out of office?

If forced out of office under the 25th Amendment will Trump’s lawyers, relying on Trump’s removal from the Presidency under the 25th Amendment, claim that his removal provides prima facie evidence that he is incompetent to stand trial on any state or federal charges?

If forced out of office by impeachment (big IF) will the plethora of news articles since his election diagnosing Trump’s mental health be proffered by Trump’s lawyers as prima facie evidence that he is incompetent to stand trial on any state or federal charges?

Under either scenario he gets a pardon, keeps his presidential pension and security detail, and does not have to stand for trial on any state and federal charges. (Yes, his assets are still at risk and his kids are still subject to trial(s), but when has he worried about anyone but himself?)

(If this is posted under wrong forum, sorry, it's not my fault. My only option was GD.)

Last night, at dusk, in one of our Palo Verde trees I saw a bug. It's antenna was black, but all of

its body was orange including the 6 legs, its two wings were also orange but a small portion at the bottom of the wings was black. It also had the same black area on its butt. It was about 1 inch and slender. No other spots.

I did an internet search and found nothing. It's not a tarantula hawk cuz their body is black --- unless baby tarantula hawks have orange bodies. Could not find any info about this.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

Care to share?

A short time ago an article was posted on DU about a 68-pound, 13 year-old boy with diabetes who died because he was treated with alternative medicines rather than insulin. This story was responded to by the anti-alternative medicine crowd on DU crowing about this boy’s death being further proof that alternative medicines are snake oil and the reason why people shouldn’t choose alternative therapies. The child’s death while using alternative medicine played into their righteous conventional-medicine-only stance, yet the fact that this was a 13 year-old boy who only weighed 68 pounds was ignored. The boy’s death may have been compounded by a lack of insulin, but he died from long-term parental neglect/abuse. How many healthy 13 year-old boys weigh only 68 pounds?

The healing process in conventional medicine is to take a pill to heal. Whereas, the healing process in alternative medicine is to balance the imbalance. I believe there is a use for conventional medicine and a use for alternative medicine, and their uses should be inclusive, not exclusive. However, I am not interested in debating alternative medicine with the anti-alternative medicine crowd who are on this site or any other site. What I am interested in is beginning and sustaining a conversation of like-minded alternative medicine users sharing their knowledge to improve one’s physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

To that end, how inclusive are alternative therapies in your life? Are alternative therapies your first choice of treatment? Do you incorporate energy work or other abilities into your protocols? What are your go-to remedies?

As for me, I was introduced to alternative medicine more than 15 years ago and it is my first, and usually the only therapy I use. Some of the dis-eases where I have successfully used only alternative therapies include treatment for sarcoid cancer (animals), Valley Fever (humans and animals), Hashimotos (humans), intestinal worms (animals), Head Shaking Syndrome (horses), laminitis and founder (horses), and broken bones (humans and animals). Over the years the energy work that I incorporate into my healing protocol has morphed into an empathic ability. My go-to alternative remedies are numerous and include liquid Maritime Pine Bark, Rescue Remedy, and colloidal silver at the top of my list.

My favorite thing about using alternative medicine is the ever-constant learning cycle. I hope that there are some on DU who will reply with their protocols so that we can all become better healers because IMHO the acceptance and use of alternative medicine is the connection that makes the respect for Mother Earth, alternative medicines, and spirituality inextricably bound.

Has anyone tried a 10% vinegar solution for killing weeds? If so, did it work? nt

The weather here today is awful: cold, rainy and windy. Nevertheless I took my GS for his daily

hike. I live in a rural area and during the hike I picked up a rock and thought about whether or not I was the first human to touch this millions (billions) of years old rock. It'd be pretty cool if that was the case.